In Ukraine, milk production and consumption is growing; while its import and export is declining
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in the past 10 months milk produced (excluding the temporary occupied Crimea territory) by all farm categories has increased by 0.7%. In particular, agricultural enterprise farms produced 2268.9 thousand tons (4.1% more than last year during the same period), while production of milk in household farms decreased by 0.3% and amounts to 7519.2 thousand tons.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy predicts that in 2014 milk production will amount to 11.438 million tons, which will satisfy consumption of milk of 226.7 kg per person (which is 2.6% more than last year).
As explained by the relevant ministry, the increase in milk production is mainly caused by improved agricultural technologies used and, consequently, increase in an average milk yield per cow to 4428 kg (7% more than last year).
The Ministry of Agriculture says that its own production volume is sufficient to satisfy domestic demand for dairy products.
In the past 10 months, import of milk and dairy products totaled to 315 thousand tons in terms of milk, which is 21.4% less than last year. An export has also decreased: by 27.9% down to 459 thousand tons (in addition, 25 thousand tons has been imported into Crimea)
In 2014, it is planned to reduce import of dairy products by nearly 21.5% (to 430 thousand tons) and export by 28.5% (to 550 tons). In addition, the import into Crimea will total to 100 thousand tons.